FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
2012 Ford Escape AWD
The 2012 Ford Escape AWD has 2 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 598 owner complaints, and gets about 23 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
SPECS
2012 Ford Escape AWD at a glance
- Engine
- 4-cyl 2.5L
- Cylinders
- 4
- Displacement
- 2.5 L
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic 6-spd
- Body
- Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
- Fuel
- Regular
Source: EPA / NHTSA vPIC, as of July 12, 2026.
SAFETY RECALLS · NHTSA
2 openFuel System, Gasoline
26/10/2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.
Suspension
03/06/2015
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Remedy: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
NHTSA has opened one or more investigations covering this model. Recalls can follow an investigation, so check NHTSA for the latest before you buy.
Open safety recalls are free to fix at any franchised dealer. What recalls mean → Source: NHTSA recalls, as of July 12, 2026. Recalls can be issued any time, confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
OWNER COMPLAINTS · NHTSA
598 filed- 137
STEERING
No power steering hard to turn left and right
- 100
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Clearly the vehicle is leaking and is a fire hazard. I received a notice that it has been recalled but it’s not showing up under my vin.
- 61
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter was shifted into drive however, the gear shifter failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that after several attempts, the
- 52
STRUCTURE
Sub frame cracked,due to corrosion.Broke Lower control arm. I could not steer my SUV. I was terrified.The noise was so loud. This happened a road away from my home. I called AAA. They came and towed my vehicle to my driveway. I don’t unders
- 49
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I recently purchased a 2012 ford escape, and the engine runs loud, and after researching, I feel that the throttle body is not in working condition. I looked up recalls on this vehicle and there is an incomplete throttle body repair/replac
- 30
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2012 Ford Escape has a critical HVAC defect that impairs defrost performance and poses a serious safety risk. Specifically, the desiccant bag within the A/C system’s dryer appears to break down over time, releasing particles into the sys
Problems owners reported to the government, useful for spotting patterns, not proof any one car has them. What complaints mean → Source: NHTSA complaints, as of July 12, 2026. Owner-submitted reports, not verified diagnoses.
CRASH-TEST RATINGS · NHTSA NCAP
- Overall
- ★★★☆☆
- Frontal
- ★★★☆☆
- Side
- ★★★☆☆
- Rollover
- ★★★☆☆
Government crash tests of this model; not every trim or year is tested. Source: NHTSA NCAP, as of July 12, 2026.
FUEL & RUNNING COST · U.S. EPA
- Combined
- 23 mpg
- City / Hwy
- 20 / 26
- Est. fuel / yr
- $2,700
- CO₂ / mi
- 386 g
EPA lab estimates; real mpg varies by how you drive. Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov, as of July 12, 2026. Annual cost assumes 15,000 mi/yr at EPA's reference price.
All figures above come from free U.S. government sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, investigations, crash tests) and the EPA (fuel economy and specs). We don't show market price, insurance cost, or proprietary reliability scores, because there's no free, reliable public source for them. For a verdict on a specific listing, with a fair-offer number and what to ask the seller, that's the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Confirm the recalls were fixed
This model has 2 open NHTSA recalls (including the fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
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Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
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Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
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Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
Quick answers
What is recalled on the 2012 Ford Escape AWD? +
NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2012 Ford Escape AWD, including the fuel system, gasoline. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Escape AWD get? +
The EPA rates the 2012 Ford Escape AWD at 23 mpg combined (20 city / 26 highway), about $2,700 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2012 Ford Escape AWD? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2012 Ford Escape AWD 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 3 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2012 Ford Escape AWD? +
Owners have filed 598 complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Escape AWD, including 37 involving a crash. The most-reported area is steering.
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